The soap operas "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" will continue to air on the Web after they end their runs on ABC in several months.The network announced in a statement on Thursday, July 7 that it has licensed the shows to the production company Prospect Park as part of an "exclusive multi-year, multi-platform deal" that allows the programs' stories to continue beyond their finale dates on the network.
ABC announced in April that the shows will end their runs on the network after some 40 years on the air. "All My Children" is set to air its last episode on Sept. 23 and "One Live To Live" will broadcast its series finale in January 2012. Following the news, many fans of the soap operas protested online - via social networking messages and emails to ABC and its companies, including OnTheRedCarpet.com, which is operated by KABC Television.
Prospect Park will "produce and deliver the two soap opera to consumers via online formats and additional emerging platforms including internet enabled television sets," ABC's statement said, adding: "Under the terms of the arrangement, the programs will continue to be delivered with the same quality and in the same format and length."
Prospect Park was founded in 2009 by Jeffrey Kwatinetz and former Disney Studios head Rich Frank and has co-produced shows such as "Royal Pains" and "Wilfred," an FX series based on an Australian show about a man who communicates with a potty-mouthed dog, who he sees as a man in a canine costume. The U.S. version of the show debuted several weeks ago and stars Elijah Wood.
Release dates for the online versions of "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" have not been announced. ABC and Prospect Park representatives had no immediate comment about whether cast members from both shows will continue to star on the online versions of the soap operas. Actors typically get paid less for Internet programming.
"All My Children" star Susan Lucci had told the television show "Access Hollywood," after it was confirmed the soap opera was set to end its run on ABC, that she thinks the show will end like a "great novel." She is also thinking about her next project and confirmed she is in talks about possibly starring on the ABC primetime drama series "Desperate Housewives."
Ratings have fallen for many soap operas on different networks in recent years amid a changing society, which sees more women in the workplace during the day, and the rising popularity of reality, game and talk shows.
The time slots occupied by "All My Children" and "One Life To Life" in most markets are set to be replaced with talk shows. "The Chew," a one-hour lifestyle series, is set to debut on September 26. Another show, tentatively called "The Revolution," will debut in January 2012. ABC also still airs the soap opera "General Hospital" and plans to broadcast a new daytime talk show headlined by veteran newswoman Katie Couric.
Several markets, including New York, Houston, and Chicago, have cleared their 3 p.m. time slot for her program in 2012. "The Oprah Winfrey Show" used to air during that time. "General Hospital" currently occupies that time slot in many markets across the country. ABC has said it continues to support the soap opera.
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